totem. is an exploration of one man’s emotional, mental landscape as he confronts his crumbling relationship and is presented with a fantastic manifestation of his ideals. While a work of fiction, totem. was born from months riddled with a crisis of self-confidence. At the end of this time, Gaboury realised what he needed wasn’t what he always relied on, and instead found relief in something completely unexpected. totem. began life as a short story, mostly written by stream-of-conscious, influenced by the performance of spoken-word poetry.

NAKED LADIES is that moment where someone tells you that women are naturally secretive. It’s the moment they say, “Women take off their clothes to forget about their fathers”. It’s locked in the skin; intimate—between the shadow and the soul. For what are we hiding when we show it all? And what does it mean to be truly exposed? Between the naked and the nude, between forgetting fathers and remembering mothers, past sexual stigma and personal secrets, NAKED LADIES weaves personal narrative, art history, and performance theory to ask why women get naked on stage and off. Why, where and for whom?

WARNING: This show contains mature and explicit content.

When?

Dec. 13th & 14th
@ 7pm & 9pm

Where?

hub14, 14 Markham St., Toronto, ON

How much?

$15 general / $10 arts worker & student

tickets are available at the door
-or-
can be reserved online by sending an email to:
afieldofcrowns@gmail.com

As I make my way through a couple classes at Volcano’s 2013 Conservatory I am pleased to receive some good news concerning my recent trip to Hamilton with my new solo show totem.: The View (Hamilton’s version of NOW!) called totem.“one of the hidden gems of The Hamilton Fringe 2013.” I had an amazing time in Hamilton; meeting some lovely people; getting this show on its feet after only 5 in-depth rehearsals; adapting the show to the gorgeous James North Studio Gallery; being right in the middle of one of the craziest storms I’ve experienced in the past few years; and performing totem. 8 times in about 50 hours. Even though my houses weren’t necessarily packed (i.e. “hidden gem”) I took the time I had in Hamilton to tell a story that I deeply care about to anyone that wanted to listen.

This review from The View, posted below, reassures me that I wasn’t the only one who had a good time during this amazing little escape to Hamilton.

Thanks to everyone who came out to see the premiere of totem. ~ if you missed it, there will probably be some extra opportunities to check it out very soon. Stay tuned!

Totem.

Written and starring Andrew Gaboury from Toronto, Totem tells the story about a man caught between what he has and what he wants. Gaboury uses his seemingly boundless energy to convey to the audience the inner struggle of a young man being seduced by a beautiful smile on the beach. Gaboury is an actor that deserves major kudos for his performance. As with many smaller shows, there are times where your audience may consist of just a handful of people. Having a small audience did not dampen his show in any way shape or form. This young actor showed his experience and passion for the art as he gave a performance as if hundreds of people were in the room. Totem was one of the hidden gems of The Hamilton Fringe 2013. V (DW)

It it amazing to experience a tornado-level storm in a city you don’t know, while running around the streets looking for a woman you do.

It is amazing to watch the storm blow down the street, from one intersection to the next until it hits you straight-on. All of a sudden sand, dirt is flying everywhere – where does one find sand, where does one find dirt, in a city? Stinging my eyes, making them water. Looking around for shelter. Asking for directions. What once was sweat is now rain. I’m carrying puddles in my shoes. The office door opens behind me, Come inside, she says, It’s crazy out there, briefcase in hand. Another woman vacuuming the lobby.

I made it back for my show, thankfully got to change into my dry costume, wiped off my feet. My shoes are still drying at home as I type this on the bus back to Hamilton. I’m told there was lightning behind me for my second show. For my own storm. There were men from the mission watching from the overhang outside the gallery, just wanting to stay dry. They clapped when I lay down. Cheered me on. I smiled to them when I bowed. As the show ended we noticed they had no power across the street.

So, seeing as how the world’s ending, want to grab a drink?

The Baltimore was candle-lit. We didn’t notice at first; thought it was just the mood they were striving to achieve. More cheers when the lights came back on. Not much of a difference in mood. We drank and ate sandwiches and watched seven artists break dance, we listened to music and generally just tried to absorb the day. For five strangers in a foreign city, Hamilton certainly left it’s impression on us.

totem. at the Hamilton Fringe Gallery Mini-Series continues today at 4:30, 7:45 & 9:15pm. It is playing at the beautiful James North Studio Gallery (328 James North) and is preceded by the stunning Lucy Rupert’s show Frankenstein Fragments at 3:45, 5:15 & 8:30pm. Tickets are $8 for each show and can be bought at the door.